Self-care Activities You can Try at Home

If you work a lot, it can get draining and seem impossible to even fill a few hours of your time. By the time the weekend rolls around, you’re exhausted and just want to take a break. When that happens, we try to remind ourselves how important taking care of ourselves is for, not only your body, but for your mind as well.

Self care is a growing trend nowadays and it’s for good reason. Studies have shown that people who practice self-care are more productive at work, feel more empowered and happier in general. If you’ve been looking into self-care but don’t know how to get started, here are some starter tips that — with a little bit of effort and dedication — can help bring more self-care into your life. This self care post is about self care ideas for things you can do at home to refresh and relax so you feel more at peace during the week.

Practice meditation.

Start with meditation in your own self care plan. Meditation is a great activity to practice at home. It’s been shown to help with stress and anxiety, as it is great for mindfulness, concentration, and focus. There are many different forms you can try, but the simplest way to get started is by sitting up straight in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and savoring the present moment. You can close your eyes or leave them open and simply focus on your breath for a few minutes each day. If that sounds easier said than done, there are lots of apps out there that will guide you through it until it feels more natural!

Make yourself a healthy meal.

You’ve been staying inside and social distancing, but what you’re eating is just as important. You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know that the food we eat affects our health, so why not take steps that help you feel your best? Even when it comes to self-care, cooking shouldn’t feel like a chore—and it doesn’t have to be one. Instead, consider this an opportunity.

Aim for at least 30 minutes of prep time per day—or less if you can manage it! Food prep doesn’t have to mean slicing and dicing; even simply washing your veggies will make them easier (and more appetizing) to eat later on in the week. Lastly, make sure everyone in your family is involved in mealtime: everyone has their own eating habits and preferences, but making healthy food choices together is a powerful way of building a deeper bond between you and your loved ones.

Give yourself a foot massage.

First, take off your socks and shoes. Then, apply lotion or massage oil to the soles of your feet.

A simple foot rub can be an incredibly relaxing experience that also helps you unwind and get ready for sleep in a healthy way. While you’re at it, you’re also helping your circulation and treating any muscle soreness on one of the most-used parts of your body: your feet! Any kind of self-massage is a great addition to any bedtime routine—just remember to use a good lotion or massage cream so that the process is both effective and soothing.

Practice yoga.

Take a few moments to center yourself. Breathe in, breathe out. Practice the ancient art of yoga! Mental self care is as important as physical self care. You can do this at home and experience the many benefits yoga has to offer. Not only does it increase flexibility, strength and balance, but yoga is also an excellent tool for reducing stress and anxiety. Yoga poses can range from simple seated stretches to more advanced poses such as crow pose or headstands, depending on your comfort level.

To get started, you’ll need a mat or towel and comfortable clothes. Yoga is best practiced at least once a day, whether that be in the morning to energize you ahead of a busy day or as a relaxing end to your evening routine before bedtime. There are many classes available online where you can learn basic techniques using videos demonstrating each pose. Don’t forget: slow down and breathe! Practice deep breathing.

Listen to music and dance.

Listening to music and dancing. This is probably the most obvious one on the list, but it’s a goodie. If you’ve been feeling especially down, your first instinct might be to listen to sad music (or at least music that isn’t super upbeat), but this can actually end up making you feel worse. Instead, try turning on something that gets your body moving—the lyrics themselves don’t matter as much as the beat!

The important thing is not to choose a song that makes you want to run a marathon. Pick something with an energetic beat that won’t tire you out or make you feel like a failure if you can’t keep up with it. Most people find dancing fun in itself, and when combined with music, it becomes its own kind of therapy for both mind and body. So turn up your favorite tunes and get into it! This is even more enjoyable if you have a partner or two willing to join in with you, but don’t worry about being alone—even dancing by yourself can help improve your mood!

Self care activities are important, and you can practice them at home.

Practicing self care is a great way to maintain your mental and physical well-being. But what if you can’t leave the house?

While being unable to go outside can be frustrating, you don’t have to miss out on all of the self care activities that help keep your body and mind strong. Self care isn’t defined by how much money you spend or how far away from home you are—it’s defined by what keeps you feeling good in your day-to-day life. So while it’s true that there are plenty of opportunities for self care in the wide world out there, there are also plenty of ways to practice self care right where you are, especially at home.